Kelsey ProudNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Science reporter Véronique LaCapra first caught the radio bug writing commentaries for NPR affiliate WAMU in Washington, D.C. After producing her first audio documentaries at the Duke Center for Documentary Studies in N.C., she was hooked! She has done ecological research in the Brazilian Pantanal; regulated pesticides for the Environmental Protection Agency in Arlington, Va.; been a freelance writer and volunteer in South Africa; and contributed radio features to the Voice of America in Washington, D.C. She earned a Ph.D. in ecosystem ecology from the University of California in Santa Barbara, and a B.A. in environmental policy and biology from Cornell. LaCapra grew up in Cambridge, Mass., and in her mother’s home town of Auxerre, France.NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Véronique LaCapraWed, 23 Aug 2017 07:59:11 +0000Véronique LaCaprahttp://news.stlpublicradio.org
Véronique LaCapraThe U.S. Geological Survey is searching for commercially important minerals in southeastern Missouri. But the researchers won't be using any shovels or pick-axes: All the data will be collected from a small, low-flying plane. The aerial survey is part of an on-going project to study the geology of the St. Francois Mountains.Aerial survey to look for valuable minerals in southeastern Missourihttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/aerial-survey-look-valuable-minerals-southeastern-missouri
50927 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgFri, 08 Jan 2016 23:49:17 +0000Aerial survey to look for valuable minerals in southeastern MissouriVéronique LaCapraAfter two years of delay, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on Thursday that it will move ahead with plans to build a firebreak at a landfill complex in north St. Louis County. A fire has been smoldering underground at the Bridgeton Landfill since late 2010, about 1,000 feet away from tons of radioactive waste buried in the adjacent West Lake Landfill.EPA to build a physical firebreak at the West Lake Landfill in Bridgetonhttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/epa-build-physical-firebreak-west-lake-landfill-bridgeton
50824 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgThu, 31 Dec 2015 21:36:06 +0000EPA to build a physical firebreak at the West Lake Landfill in BridgetonVéronique LaCapraPoinsettias are sold by the millions every year, almost all of them between Thanksgiving and Christmas. As popular as these holiday flowers are, there still may be a few things about them that could surprise you. Here are five fun facts about poinsettias we wanted to share.5 fun facts you may not know about poinsettias — and a few myths bustedhttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/5-fun-facts-you-may-not-know-about-poinsettias-and-few-myths-busted
50808 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgThu, 31 Dec 2015 15:19:36 +00005 fun facts you may not know about poinsettias — and a few myths bustedUpdate 2:30 Dec. 29 with guard activated - Floodwater from Coldwater Creek in north St. Louis County is not radioactive, but it could still pose a health risk. That’s according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is testing and cleaning up contaminated yards and parks along the creek.Floodwaters from record rain not radioactive — but deadly for some in Missouri as many roads closehttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/floodwaters-record-rain-not-radioactive-deadly-some-missouri-many-roads-close
50768 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgTue, 29 Dec 2015 20:35:06 +0000Floodwaters from record rain not radioactive — but deadly for some in Missouri as many roads closeVéronique LaCapraThe Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is spending billions of dollars to keep sewage out of area waterways as part of a court-ordered agreement. But MSD’s plan involves something you might not expect: demolishing vacant buildings. Right now, big storms can overwhelm the city’s combined stormwater and sewer system, causing raw sewage to overflow into rivers and streams. If a surface is paved over — or has a building on it — rain will run off it into the sewers. But take the building away and the rainwater can seep into the ground instead. "We were amazed to find that the building demolitions actually resulted in a large amount of water capture for relatively very few dollars of investment," MSD Executive Director Brian Hoelscher said. Hoelscher said MSD will spend up to $13.5 million to demolish vacant buildings in St. Louis over the next two decades. MSD will also provide small grants to homeowners to build rain gardens and planter boxes, as well as bigger ones to help fundDoes demolishing buildings keep sewage out of streams? MSD, St. Louis officials say yeshttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/does-demolishing-buildings-keep-sewage-out-streams-msd-st-louis-officials-say-yes
50681 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgWed, 23 Dec 2015 03:36:46 +0000Does demolishing buildings keep sewage out of streams? MSD, St. Louis officials say yesVéronique LaCapraDepression very early in life can affect the way a child’s brain develops. A new study by researchers at Washington University is the first to link early childhood depression to physical changes in the developing brain.Early childhood depression alters the developing brain, Wash U study suggestshttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/early-childhood-depression-alters-developing-brain-wash-u-study-suggests
50547 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgWed, 16 Dec 2015 22:50:11 +0000Early childhood depression alters the developing brain, Wash U study suggestsVéronique LaCapraThe 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference wrapped up in Paris over the weekend. While talking heads analyze the merits of the plan that came out of the meeting, farmers in the Midwest are thinking about the very real impact climate change is having on them. Agriculture could be among the sectors hardest hit by a warming global climate, and farmers here already are having to adapt to changing weather patterns.Climate change could mean more downpours and droughts for Missouri's farmershttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/climate-change-could-mean-more-downpours-and-droughts-missouris-farmers
50458 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgMon, 14 Dec 2015 02:09:52 +0000Climate change could mean more downpours and droughts for Missouri's farmersVéronique LaCapraThe U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has found more radioactive contamination along a north St. Louis County creek. The latest round of sampling detected radioactive soil at three homes and four businesses near Coldwater Creek. That’s in addition to the contamination found this summer at four homes and the Chez Paree apartment complex near Palm Drive in Hazelwood. The Corps declined to say where the seven newly-identified properties are located or what kind of businesses are involved, stating it is still verifying that all property owners have been contacted.Army Corps finds more radioactive soil at homes and businesses in north St. Louis Countyhttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/army-corps-finds-more-radioactive-soil-homes-and-businesses-north-st-louis-county
50368 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgTue, 08 Dec 2015 01:00:17 +0000Army Corps finds more radioactive soil at homes and businesses in north St. Louis CountyVéronique LaCapraUpdated 5:00 p.m., Dec. 3 with information on the county study - Federal scientists were in St. Louis County on Wednesday to talk with area residents about a planned public health assessment related to contamination along Coldwater Creek. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) announced last month that it would be launching the study to evaluate people’s potential exposures to radiation and other hazardous substances in and around the creek. At Wednesday's open house, federal environmental health scientist Erin Evans provided an overview of the public health assessment process and took notes as people described their contact with the creek and subsequent health problems. According to Evans, the assessment will not be able to determine whether any individual person’s cancer or other disease was caused by pollutants from the creek. “What we can do is we can say, there’s the potential that someone was exposed to this amount of a contaminant, and it may have led to —Were you exposed to radioactive waste along Coldwater Creek? A federal health agency wants to knowhttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/were-you-exposed-radioactive-waste-along-coldwater-creek-federal-health-agency-wants-know
50200 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgTue, 01 Dec 2015 20:42:28 +0000Were you exposed to radioactive waste along Coldwater Creek? A federal health agency wants to knowVéronique LaCapraAlmost one in every 10 children with cancer was born with an inherited genetic mutation predisposing them to develop the disease, according to a joint study by Washington University and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. The research suggests that genetic screening could provide an important tool for diagnosing cancers earlier and avoiding ineffective treatments.Nearly 1 in 10 children with cancer is genetically vulnerable to the disease, study suggestshttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/nearly-1-10-children-cancer-genetically-vulnerable-disease-study-suggests
50067 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgFri, 27 Nov 2015 02:16:23 +0000Nearly 1 in 10 children with cancer is genetically vulnerable to the disease, study suggestsVéronique LaCapraSt. Louis County is teaming up with federal scientists to assess health risks from radioactive contamination in and around Coldwater Creek in north St. Louis County. According to county public health department director Faisal Khan, the collaboration with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry will give a big boost to local efforts to study those risks, both in terms of financial resources and technical expertise. Coldwater Creek was contaminated with wastes from uranium processing for the nuclear weapons program in the decades during and following World War II. Many people who grew up near the creek have developed cancers or other diseases, and they want to know whether exposure to radioactive contamination is to blame. Khan said the county's joint assessment with ATSDR will hopefully provide current and former north county residents with some long-awaited answers. “It's basically designed to look at certain types of cancers that are known and proven to be associatedFederal health agency to help study risks from radioactive creek in north St. Louis Countyhttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/federal-health-agency-help-study-risks-radioactive-creek-north-st-louis-county
49991 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgFri, 20 Nov 2015 03:38:59 +0000Federal health agency to help study risks from radioactive creek in north St. Louis CountyVéronique LaCapraThe St. Louis region faces a wide range of potential public health crises, including natural disasters like tornados and floods, infectious disease epidemics and civil unrest. Our ability to respond to such emergencies will be the focus of a conference on Thursday hosted annually by Washington University’s Institute for Public Health . Dr. Bill Powderly, who directs the Institute, said this year’s gathering will attract public health professionals, medical students and others with an interest in emergency preparedness. “It’s an opportunity for people who work in different areas to come together around this theme and identify where the opportunities for further collaboration might be,” Powderly said. The director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, Dr. Stephan Redd, will deliver the keynote address. The conference will also include a panel discussion and question-and-answer session about preparing for, andWashington University public health conference to focus on emergency preparedness and responsehttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/washington-university-public-health-conference-focus-emergency-preparedness-and-response
49928 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgWed, 18 Nov 2015 11:31:27 +0000Washington University public health conference to focus on emergency preparedness and responseVéronique LaCapraScientists have identified a chemical that could one day be used in eye drops to treat cataracts — potentially eliminating the need for expensive surgery, the only treatment option currently available. The research team was led by the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor but included researchers from the University of Washington in Seattle and Washington University in St. Louis. The group found that eye drops made with a type of steroid could partially reverse cataracts in mice. Washington University ophthalmology researcher Usha Andley said most of the animals in the study responded to treatment. "This opens the door for developing ophthalmic drugs that can treat cataract(s) and remove the need for surgery," Andley said. Cataracts are very common, particularly in older people. They form when proteins, called crytallins , in the lens of the eye start to aggregate, causing the normally transparent lens to cloud over. "Solubility of these proteins is known to decline with age," AndleyStudy: steroid shows potential for treating cataracts without surgeryhttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/study-steroid-shows-potential-treating-cataracts-without-surgery
49655 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgFri, 06 Nov 2015 17:49:24 +0000Study: steroid shows potential for treating cataracts without surgeryVéronique LaCapraSt. Louis Public Radio has been following developments at a landfill complex in St. Louis County, where for five years an underground fire has been smoldering at the Bridgeton Landfill, about 1,000 feet away from radioactive waste at the adjacent West Lake Landfill. The situation is unique, and we thought it merited national attention. You can listen to our national update below, or read the story at npr.org. If you're new to the landfill issues or have questions about the situation, please check out our FAQ for more information. And stay tuned to St. Louis Public Radio and stlpublicradio.org for future landfill news and analysis. Follow Véronique LaCapra on Twitter : @KWMUScienceNational update: Conflicts over risks of fire, nuclear waste, stoke fears of St. Louis Co. landfillshttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/national-update-conflicts-over-risks-fire-nuclear-waste-stoke-fears-st-louis-co-landfills
49588 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgTue, 03 Nov 2015 16:12:48 +0000National update: Conflicts over risks of fire, nuclear waste, stoke fears of St. Louis Co. landfillsVéronique LaCapraUpdated at 5 p.m., Oct. 20 with new information -- St. Louis Public Radio is updating this FAQ to describe what we know — and don't know — about the Bridgeton and West Lake landfills. We'll continue to add to it based on your input and as new information becomes available. In March 2014, we first published this story to help answer some key questions about the situation at this complex of landfills in north St. Louis County. A lot has happened since then — but in many ways, not much has changed.Confused about Bridgeton, West Lake landfills? Here's what you should knowhttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/confused-about-bridgeton-west-lake-landfills-heres-what-you-should-know
34085 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgWed, 21 Oct 2015 02:24:49 +0000Confused about Bridgeton, West Lake landfills? Here's what you should knowVéronique LaCapraA federal report shows no off-site human health risk from radioactive waste at the West Lake Landfill. At the request of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, or ATSDR, reviewed existing data on groundwater, air, and soil contamination at and around the landfill in Bridgeton. Overall, the assessment found no radiation risk to surrounding communities, but did caution that workers at the landfill need to be protected from inhaling radioactive dust and radon gas.Federal report shows no radiation risk to communities around the West Lake Landfillhttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/federal-report-shows-no-radiation-risk-communities-around-west-lake-landfill
49242 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgSat, 17 Oct 2015 02:58:27 +0000Federal report shows no radiation risk to communities around the West Lake LandfillVéronique LaCapraBridgeton and West Lake Landfill owner Republic Services is calling into question the validity of one of the reports released last month by Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster. A deposition given this Wednesday and Thursday by the report's lead author seems to raise doubts about whether or not the underground fire at the Bridgeton Landfill is really moving toward nearby radioactive waste.Republic Services casts doubt on landfill fire expert's reporthttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/republic-services-casts-doubt-landfill-fire-experts-report
49243 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgSat, 17 Oct 2015 02:37:09 +0000Republic Services casts doubt on landfill fire expert's reportVéronique LaCapraUpdated 1:00 a.m. after the landfill meeting - Hundreds of area residents jammed into the John Calvin Presbyterian Church in Bridgeton Thursday night for a meeting about two St. Louis County landfills. Many people at the meeting had never heard of the Bridgeton and West Lake landfills until last week, when St. Louis County made public an emergency response plan describing how it would respond if an underground fire at Bridgeton reaches radioactive waste at West Lake.Awareness, confusion increase over situation at St. Louis County landfillshttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/awareness-confusion-increase-over-situation-st-louis-county-landfills
49200 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgThu, 15 Oct 2015 21:02:19 +0000Awareness, confusion increase over situation at St. Louis County landfillsVéronique LaCapraScientists at Washington University have developed a genetic test that can be used to detect practically any virus known to infect humans. It could be especially useful for quickly identifying the cause of deadly disease outbreaks or helping a patient whose disease has eluded diagnosis.New genetic test can detect almost any human virushttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/new-genetic-test-can-detect-almost-any-human-virus
48936 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgMon, 05 Oct 2015 05:55:00 +0000New genetic test can detect almost any human virusVéronique LaCapraUpdated 5:00 p.m., Sept. 24 with vote result - The Missouri Air Conservation Commission has voted to designate parts of Franklin and St. Charles counties as "unclassifiable" for sulfur dioxide pollution. Thursday's vote follows a recommendation by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources earlier this week.Missouri regulators unable to say whether air near Ameren's Labadie power plant is safe to breathehttp://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/missouri-regulators-unable-say-whether-air-near-amerens-labadie-power-plant-safe-breathe
48687 as http://news.stlpublicradio.orgThu, 24 Sep 2015 21:36:42 +0000Missouri regulators unable to say whether air near Ameren's Labadie power plant is safe to breathe